We Are the Music-Makers: SAB Choral Octavo
Words by Arthur William Edgar O'Shaughnessy, music and additional words by Andy Beck
Item: 00-PO-0003186
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Bookended by a majestic choral fanfare, this contemporary work is a vivid realization of O'Shaughnessy's famous poem. A dynamic piano accompaniment fully supports the soaring melodies and rich harmonies. Brilliant as a concert opener or festival selection.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0003186
More about this title
About the Composer: Andy Beck
Andy Beck directs choral publications at Alfred Music and has composed and arranged over 450 choral works performed by singers across the globe. His versatility spans concert music, vocal resources, and children's musicals, alongside instructional publications including Sing at First Sight and Vocalize! 45 Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique. Beck holds degrees in music education from Ithaca College and Northwest Missouri State University.
Beyond the page, Beck is an active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator working with honor choirs and all-state groups throughout the country. A tenor himself, he performs with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir and brings decades of studio singing experience (Alfred Music since 1992) to his understanding of what singers need. His dual commitment to choral artistry and music literacy shapes every piece he writes and every publication he shepherds into Alfred's catalog.
Why we love this
Beck's setting captures the soaring idealism of O'Shaughnessy's "We Are the Music-Makers" without ever feeling overwrought. The piano part is genuinely supportive rather than ornamental, giving your singers the harmonic foundation they need while the three-part voicing stays within comfortable ranges for mixed choirs. Opening with a fanfare and building to something genuinely memorable, this works equally well as a festival showstopper or a concert's perfect first impression.
What to expect
Majestic yet contemporary, this piece celebrates the power of music-making itself. The opening fanfare announces something important; the melodies that follow feel both soaring and grounded. Throughout, there's a sense of shared purpose and collective voice that makes performing it feel genuinely uplifting rather than merely technically competent.
Who it's for
This octavo suits intermediate to advanced SAB choirs seeking accessible yet substantial programming. It's ideal for groups comfortable with three-part voicing and able to sustain melodic lines while maintaining harmonic balance. The poetic text and concert-ready scope appeal to singers who want to perform something meaningful beyond warm-ups and exercises.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the opening fanfare establish the piece's confident character. This isn't a tentative beginning; commit to the majestic quality from the downbeat.
- Balance the soaring melodies against the harmonic richness underneath. The piano part should support without overwhelming, so singers need to sing through the accompaniment rather than with it.
- Shape the dynamic arc across longer phrases rather than treating each measure as a unit. O'Shaughnessy's text rewards sustained intensity.
How to use it
Program this as your concert opener to set a tone of confidence and artistry from the start. It also serves festival contexts brilliantly, where its combination of singability and ambition works in your favor. If you're building a themed concert around poetry, music, or human connection, this selection anchors the program with both text and music that resonate.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining melodic lines across longer phrases
- Balancing three-part harmony while maintaining clear voice independence
- Interpreting text-based dynamic and expressive choices
- Performing with confidence in a piece designed for public presentation